# Thanks for preparing for 3 days on this job interview but ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 27, 2019, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270 "2019-02-27T02:50:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/1 "2019-02-27T02:50:56Z")
we have already decided we are going to hire an internal candidate. Yeah, that happened to Mrs. Cad. They required a Powerpoint for the interview so she spent 3 days researching the given topic and preparing a portfolio. It was like what you would do for a 2nd or 3rd interview even though this was only the first one. At the end of the interview they basically told her that they were really impressed with her background and her presentation but were going to promote from within … but hey that may open up some low-level jobs. Three days later she got the “We hired someone else so go fuck yourself” email. Why make someone jump through hoops like that if you already know a priori that they’ll never get the job no matter how good they are? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/2 "2019-02-27T03:32:47Z")
A wise man once told me that an interview is never a waste of time because you never know what job you might actually be interviewing for. It turned out to be true for both him and for me. And keeping your interview skills greased is also a good thing. Yes it sucks to lose out, but you can’t necessarily predict where your steps might eventually lead. As for “why?” It’s because employers are clueless idiots, most managers aren’t trained in dogshit, and figuring out best practices and procedures for hiring/interviewing is nobody’s priority. But nevertheless if your wife performed well in front of people, it wasn’t a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/3 "2019-02-27T04:35:23Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Why make someone jump through hoops like that if you already know a priori that they’ll never get the job no matter how good they are? Story of my (recent) life. The State does it to make it look like it was actually a ‘competitive’ opening. Interviewed many, many times. Once, the guy who conducted the interview, his daughter got the job. Totally unqualified. Another time, the person who eventually got the job already had their personal shit on the desk, yet I was walked around and given the Bullshit. I got a call asking me to come in for an interview for a position I didn’t apply for. They told me they got my name off the ‘waiting list’. I told them to go fuck themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/4 "2019-02-27T12:29:37Z")
Many years ago, an ex-boss of mine asked me to apply for a position at his new job. It wasn’t reporting to him, but rather a software engineer job on another team. I knew the place was heavily into CS degrees, which I don’t have, but he assured me that he’d talked to their recruiters and based on him vouching for me, they were OK with that. First time I talked to one of their recruiters, I verified this. “Hey, I don’t have a degree, I know you guys like them, let’s not waste everyone’s time if that’s a requirement.” She assured me all was OK. Went through a phone interview, same thing. Lack of degree wasn’t a problem. (I’m sure you guys get where this is going now…) So I finally go in for an in-person interview. I was cycled through several different folks, and felt like the whole thing went really well. I get to the last person, some sort of big-boss. The first thing he said to me was “You’re not qualified for this job, you don’t have a degree.” I explained to him that this should have been no news to anyone. He just dismissed it, and went on to say that they could maybe hire me as a QA person (aka, a software tester, not an engineer). I had zero interest in that; there were plenty of places willing to hire me as an engineer, and indeed, I was working full-time as an engineer. But he decided we should talk salary regardless, and when he saw what I was asking, he pretty much laughed in my face. I told him it was on par with my current salary and I felt it was fair. He then accused me of lying about it. Remember, my EX-BOSS recommended me for the position; why would I lie about my current salary when I knew all they needed to do to verify was walk down the hall and ask my ex-boss?!? At that point, I politely excused myself and left. What a massive waste of time for all involved. This happened a good 20 years ago, and I’m still pissed about it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/5 "2019-02-27T12:57:59Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > But nevertheless if your wife performed well in front of people, it wasn’t a waste of time. If her goal was to get a much-needed job and not to go to How To Get A Job 101, then her time and effort was wasted. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/6 "2019-02-27T13:08:30Z")
Anyone who is ever interested in getting a new job at any perceivable point can use interview practice. That’s my point. You are still getting something out of it. It’s never a total loss to practice. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/7 "2019-02-27T14:16:48Z")
When I was looking for my first job after college, I interviewed at this company. I was escorted into a manager’s office. He was on the phone and motioned me to sit down. He continued to talk on the phone for 20 minutes while I sat in front of him. Then we started talking. After about 5 minutes he asked me if I had a car. I said no, I had taken public transportation to the company. He said that it was company policy not to hire anyone who didn’t have their own car, and the interview ended. This was 40 years ago and I’m still pissed about it. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/8 "2019-02-27T14:41:44Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Anyone who is ever interested in getting a new job at any perceivable point can use interview practice. Interview practice? Yes Spend 3 days on research and creating a very specific powerpoint when you have no chance for the job? No ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/9 "2019-02-27T15:47:00Z")
A company I used to work for always had to interview a few Americans and reject them before hiring a foreign person for the job. Their interpretation of the law was that they could only hire a foreign worker if they could show that they first tried to hire an American first and could not find a suitable candidate. So the process was to bring in a temporary worker from overseas, create an opening and reject anyone else who applied for the job, but interviewing a few people for appearances. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/10 "2019-04-12T14:07:57Z")
Mrs Cad thinks they were looking for some free consulting. Interestingly she talked to a guy that interviewed for the same position and he got the exact same feeling. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/11 "2019-04-12T14:37:01Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Mrs Cad thinks they were looking for some free consulting. Interestingly she talked to a guy that interviewed for the same position and he got the exact same feeling. I’ve heard that’s happening more and more recently. If nothing else, she dodged a bullet by not working there. ---
**Author:** ![Stuntman\_Mike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stuntman_mike/32/334_2.png) [@Stuntman\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuntman_Mike)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/12 "2019-04-12T15:43:44Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > A wise man once told me that an interview is never a waste of time because you never know what job you might actually be interviewing for. It turned out to be true for both him and for me. > > And keeping your interview skills greased is also a good thing. Yes it sucks to lose out, but you can’t necessarily predict where your steps might eventually lead. > > As for “why?” It’s because employers are clueless idiots, most managers aren’t trained in dogshit, and figuring out best practices and procedures for hiring/interviewing is nobody’s priority. > > But nevertheless if your wife performed well in front of people, it wasn’t a waste of time. What he said. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/13 "2019-04-12T15:46:15Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Mrs Cad thinks they were looking for some free consulting. So bill them. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/14 "2019-04-12T16:46:05Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Mrs Cad thinks they were looking for some free consulting. Interestingly she talked to a guy that interviewed for the same position and he got the exact same feeling. > [@TokyoBayer](#): > > I’ve heard that’s happening more and more recently. If nothing else, she dodged a bullet by not working there. MAYBE she dodged a bullet. Did they retain a copy of the PowerPoint presentation? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/15 "2019-04-13T19:32:18Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Mrs Cad thinks they were looking for some free consulting. Interestingly she talked to a guy that interviewed for the same position and he got the exact same feeling. Sounds like it. Why ask for the presentation if you’re not going to pay for the work? I’ve heard horror stories of people doing such a presentation for their interview, getting turned down, and then finding out their ideas and procedures were being implemented by the company that rejected them. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/16 "2019-04-14T22:15:49Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Sounds like it. Why ask for the presentation if you’re not going to pay for the work? I’ve heard horror stories of people doing such a presentation for their interview, getting turned down, and then finding out their ideas and procedures were being implemented by the company that rejected them. I can’t imagine any such work product being valuable to a client. My old consulting firm, we had our candidates put together a deck based off of a hypothetical “case interview” we put them through. They had 48 hours to put it together after the interview. It actually was a fairly good way of assessing someone’s knowledge and applying it to an abstract business situation that doesn’t have a lot of supporting information. Unfortunately we did waste time for most candidates. Were ALWAYS interviewing. We only hired people if a project happened to land where a recent interviewee was a good fit for. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/17 "2019-04-15T00:16:19Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > When I was looking for my first job after college, I interviewed at this company. I was escorted into a manager’s office. He was on the phone and motioned me to sit down. He continued to talk on the phone for 20 minutes while I sat in front of him. Then we started talking. After about 5 minutes he asked me if I had a car. I said no, I had taken public transportation to the company. He said that it was company policy not to hire anyone who didn’t have their own car, and the interview ended. This was 40 years ago and I’m still pissed about it. Something similar happened to me once. I had an interview, and thirty seconds after we started talking people began coming into the office, interrupting me to talk (at length) to the interviewer about this or that issue. And in case you were wondering, no, I don’t think this was a test of how I reacted to this kind of situation. It was just how things were done in that office. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/18 "2019-04-15T00:48:19Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Mrs Cad thinks they were looking for some free consulting. Interestingly she talked to a guy that interviewed for the same position and he got the exact same feeling. No. They already knew who they were going to fill the position with. The job gets posted anyway for a few weeks. Then they hire/promote the person they had in mind from the start. It is as fair as it has always been. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-preparing-for-3-days-on-this-job-interview-but/830270/19 "2019-04-15T01:40:09Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Did they retain a copy of the PowerPoint presentation? Yep. > [@msmith537](#): > > I can’t imagine any such work product being valuable to a client. It is if you are hiring someone internally and are looking for ideas from outside and don’t want to pay for it. > [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > No. They already knew who they were going to fill the position with. The job gets posted anyway for a few weeks. Then they hire/promote the person they had in mind from the start. Then why waste everyone’s time by hiving them put together a professional presentation?!